August 12, 2005
From Manufactured Home to Shining Sea: Universal Design
Kudos to the Minnesota Manufactured Homes Association for leadership in its field!
A quick glance through recent posts at the Rolling Rains Report will turn up information on Universal Design in rural America's homes and progress toward Universal Design in the New Urbanism philosophy. A little deeper search on the keywords "Universal Design" at the site will reveal items on island resorts, desert entertainment centers, cruise ships, and regional conferences.
Below is the first mention I have come across of the adoption of Universal Design by the manufactered homes industry. The Minnesota Manufactured Homes Association has responded to market demand for Universal Design by considering its demographic which is, not surprisingly, similar to those who frequently take cruises.
As Universal Design become standard in homes, aren't you glad the US Supreme Court decided that accessibility is required in cruise ships operating out of US ports?
PRESS RELEASE
Homes Designed to Meet the Needs of All Generations
Tuesday August 9, 9:00 am ET
ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ --
Can a home be all things to all people?
Rarely.
But the new "universal design" movement in factory-built housing is making great strides toward this goal. Imagine a beautiful, factory-built home that is specially designed to meet the needs of your growing family, and allows you to care for an aging parent, and is the perfect home to spend your retirement.
Universal design is a way of ensuring that factory-built homes are designed and built to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or remodeling at a later date. When a factory-built home is universally designed from the start, it simplifies life for everyone, regardless of life stage or abilities. It meets the wide span of the homeowners' needs, now and into the future.
Just think how basic features such as level entrances, wide hallways, and larger doors would make the home more accessible to a child in a stroller, to adults moving in furniture and to a person in a wheelchair. That's what you get with a universally designed, factory-built home.
Among the many features you might find useful in universally designed factory-built homes: Bathrooms include a five-foot turning radius, raised toilet, vanity with open knee space, and roll-in shower with handheld showerhead and tub seat. Kitchens include a five-foot turning radius, removable base cabinets, loop cabinet handles and drawer pulls, and adjustable kitchen work surfaces.
Throughout the home are extra wide 42-inch hallways, extra wide 32-inch minimum clearance in doorways, lever door handles and easy-to-reach light switches, outlets and thermostats.
Universally designed factory-built homes can offer peace of mind, also, with features such as security and intercom systems, audible/visible smoke alarms and door signals, and medical alert systems.
There are hundreds of universal designed features available. They make life easier, safer and promote independence. Factory-built homebuilders offer a variety of universally designed floor plans to choose from.
For more information about today's factory-built homes, call 1.800.OWNER.21, or visit the Minnesota Manufactured Housing Association on the Web at http://www.mnmfghome.org .
Source: Minnesota Manufactured Housing Association